Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-09

twas terrTble lonesome, plum heart breakln
to the poor ereetur. Then one day, lang in
the spring, Al crept in, all broke down an no
count The life gave outen him, an for n
while he sot roun an tried ter pick up. but
the cold an the jail had their way, an he
died"
She poured out the brief but tragic story
breathlessly, then paused, looked down, and
then up again 'Gahe, ser ter myself then,
none o that in your'n, S'phiry Ann, none o
that in your'n.'
She raised the bucket and threw its con-
tents into tub.
Gabe Plummer cast fiery glanccs at her,
the spirit and fir1nness she displayed com
manding his admiration, even while they filed
him with rage against her Yes he knew Al
Hendries' story; be distinctly remembered
the fury of resentment his fate reused among
his comrades, the threats breathed against the
law, but he held himself superior to that I'M
fortunate fellow, gifted with keener wits. a
more subtle wariness. The stand Sphiry
Ann had taken against him reused bitter re-
sentiment in his soul. but the fact that he
loved her so strongly made him loath to leave
her A happy dream of one day having her
in bis home, pervading it with tho sweetness
of her presence, had been his close and faith
full companion for years, comforting his
lonely winter nights when the wind tore
wildly over the mountains, and the rain beat
upon his cabin roof, or giving additional
glory TO dangerous summer moons, when the
cloud shadows seemed to lie motionless on the
distant heights, and the sluggish river fed
moisture 10 the heated valley.
What right had she to spoil this dream be
fore it had become realityi He could not
trust himself to argue the matter WITH her
then. but abruptly rose to his feet.
"We'uns1 not say any more this molnin',
though do think settin' up Al Rendries'
wife agin me is an onlestice. Me an some o
the BOYS air comm down ter ole man Nhita-
ker's this evenin, an bein' agreeable might
step down to see you 'uns agin.
Jest as We please" she quietly replied,
then with a tinge of coloc added: If YOU
uns'l go back ter the clearin I'll do jest what
promised, Gabe"
But without saving whether be would or
would not. Gabe shouldered his gun and went
away.
S'phiry Ann had been very calm and de-
cided throughout the interview, but the mo-
ment her lover bad disappeared she sank
trembling on the bench, her face hidden in
her hands
"If it hadn't "a ben for thinkin' o AL Hen
dries wife I never could a. stood up egin
him." she sighed family
A squirrel springing niphly from laurel
to slender chestnut tree paused on a swaying
branch TO look at her, and bird fiuttered
softly in the sweet gum above her The sun
olipTa1 q cloud aYaf4 NH Sha m
go about her work the spring day had grown
gray and dull 1t sent shiver through her,
as she stared dejectedly at the overshadowed
valley She had little time though, for idle
| Indulgence; she must be at her washing; and
| presently. when the clouds had drifted away
| and the sunshine stepped the earth in its
| warmth again, her spirits rose, song burst
| from her lips=an ancient hymn, old almost
as the everlasting mountains around her.
The day waved TO full noon, Their waned,
| and Sphirv Ann spread the clothes on the
garden fence and the grass to dry There were
| other duties awaiting her The geese must
| be driven up the cows MIXED, and water
brought from the spring for evening uA
Then she would put on her clean cotton gown
| and smooth the tangles ont of her hair before
Gahe came in. 1t was all accomplished as she
had planned, and at dusk she sat on the rear
step of the entry taking few minutes of well
earned rest The light streamed out from the
| kitchen. falling across the clean. bare ward
and sending shifting CLEANS up among the
| young leaves of the trees On the kitchen
step sat Eph, an orphan bow of u or Is the
| Standneges had adopted, whiting hickory
stick for whistle, and at his side c,pnched a
lean, ugly hound, Sphiry could see her
father tilted back in chair against the LOOM
talking to Jim Wise, valley farmer who
had come MP to salt bis cattle on the noun
tains, while her mother and sister passed back
and forth preparing supper. The voices of
the men were raised, and presently she heard
Wise say:
"The raiders air out ter.night. 50 hearn
comm IN the mountain They air expectin
ter ketch mp with things this time. bein' as
somebody has been a-tellin'-it pears 50, any
way
S'phiry Ann pressed her hands togethe,
with little gasp.
"The boys air got they yeers OPEN said
Mr.. Standnege with a slow smile his half
shut ewes twinkling.
But this is er unexpected move, an they
| no Nii bt ii itt II. ls-lSlctSu tIt
| other man
They air always already an lookin'
They amt ter he tux nappn'"
| But the girl listening with breathless atten
ton shivered, not sharing her fathers easy
confidence She remembered that Gabt
Plummer had said they were coming down tc
Old man Whitaker's, and she knew that they
were off guard They would be caught. she
thought, with cold sensation around hel
heart; Gabe would he put in Jail, and locked
| up probably for months. and then come bach
with all the youth and strength gone from
him Even as these thoughts were passing
| through her mind, sound fell on her cars
faint, tar away, and yet to her, alert keenly
alive to the approach of danger, terribly sig
nlficant. 1t was the steady tramp of iror
shod hoofs upon the road. and it approached
from the valley she sat motionless. but
with fierce beating heart, listening and feel
| ing sure it ives the enemy drawing near.
| The revenue men had always looked upon
the Standneges as peaceful, law abiding citi
gems, and though no information had eve,
been obtained from them, the officers some
times stopped with them, lounGed on tire entry
or sat al their board. partakers Of their huInbi,
fare. Probably they intended stopping fol
supper. The girl devoutly hoped they would
| The steady tramp grew loIIdef, me hnunt
| Iricked up his long ears, sniIed at the air
| then dashed around the house with deep
| hostile yelp. The next moment a party %
| borsenen halted before the gate. Her fear
| We're realized
The dog barked noisilv, the men chaffrt
| each other in hilarious way, while th.
horses stamped and breathed loudly, and tt1'
| quiet place seemed ali at once vivified with
| fresh life Standings went out to the gate
| followed by his guest. Mrs Standnege ans
| Polly came to the door and peered out, anr
| Eph huirie'ily closed his knife and thrust tn,
whistle into his pocket preparatory to follow
| ing his elders. The officers would not dis
mount. though Hospitality pressed to do so
Light, light, an come in, the WINNER
folks air jest a-gettin' supper" SAID Stand
nege cordially.
Business is too urgent We are bound +,
capture our men tonight. Why, the who'll
| gang are coming down out of their lair t
old man Whitakcr's tonight, so we hav